The new-look Marlins make their first appearance at Nationals Park this year.

Davey Johnson had a somewhat interesting explanation for letting Tom Gorzelanny take a pounding during the sixth inning of last night's lopsided loss to the Astros. "Bullpen's been pretty taxed pretty much all year," the manager said. "It wasn't the case where I was going to throw the kitchen sink at them trying to win that ballgame. I want to go into the division series against Miami without an overburdened pen, so Gorzo kind of had to take it on the chin."

Saving his bullets for a mid-April series against the Marlins? Are these three games this weekend that important to the Nationals? Well, maybe. After enjoying some success against mostly NL Central competition, they get perhaps their first real serious test with Miami in town. The new-look Marlins got off to a rocky start (with Ozzie Guillen's suspension at the top of the list) but they've now won five of six.

So perhaps there is a little bit of pressure on the Nationals to continue their winning ways in a series that will feature some big-time pitching matchups. Ross Detwiler faces Carlos Zambrano tonight. Stephen Strasburg goes up against Anibal Sancehz tomorrow. And Gio Gonzalez meets Josh Johnson in Sunday's finale.

I'm off tonight, but Rich Dubroff will again have you covered on CSNwashington.com. I'll be back at the ballpark tomorrow…

I heard that quote from Davey and still wonder back to what Erik and others wrote. If he was trying to save his bullpen, why didn't he leave Edwin in since he had retired 11 out of 12 batters after the 1st inning? I like Davey but sometimes the things he says don't match up with his actions. Instead of leaving Gorzo in he ended up throwing Burnett and Mattheus as well. How is that not using up your bullpen? I realize we have Stammen,Clip, Lidge and HRod with a day off but using 3 relievers is not saving bullets.

I agree with sjm308. Davey sometimes engages in some post hoc rationalization, and this time it didn't really line up with what he did in the game. Gorzo taking it on the chin and saving the pen explains pretty well leaving him in for a second inning after the disastrous sixth. But it doesn't explain why he put him in in the first place instead of letting Jackson go another inning. Nor does it explain why he also used Burnett and Mattheus. Must have been the pollen. I was hoping never to see the name Austin Kearns again, but at least he's in an opponent's lineup, not ours.

sjm, the general idea was to bring a long guy, viz. Gorzelanny, in, to cover several innings. It did kind of backfire, in that he gave up pretty much everything as soon as he got in, but by that time, the damage was mostly done. Not how Davey drew it up, but if he brings somebody else in right away, they would have to have been warming up already (wasn't watching last night, but I suspect they were not getting loose just in case, when Gorzelanny first came in), and since he didn't want to burn BOTH Gorzelanny and Stammen with the Marlins (who always give the Nats trouble) coming in, he would have brought in a series of short guys, not just Mattheus and Burnett, and even then, if that worked, now he's still losing in a close game, and if they stay close or tie it, he has to use one or two more. So the logic was to have Gorzo keep the game close, and if he didn't, screw it and go get the Marlins tomorrow. Not endorsing it, just my best guess as to what he was thinking.

Well When I write the book about how the Nats had their first winning season in many years, I won't remember Austin Kearns in Left or the Cat at third,Caus as I walk thru the Center Field gate, searching for Lombo in the lineup of Davey Johnson, I won't ask myself if all hope's lost. where is out bench and who's in the bullpen and and where is Bryce Harper sweet Bryce Harper…and each time I feel that our lead in the East is slippin away….There's one thing I want to know What's so funny about Zim, Lidge and Stephen StrasburgStephen Strasburg Brother, Steven Starsburg, SisterBorrowed from Nick Lowe and Elvis (Costello).

To understand the DJ show, you don't let the enemy know what you are really thinking…More Nick Lowe baby :All baseball men, all baseball men are liers.Their words aren't worth more than worn out plyers.Well do you remember Dick Bowden, he said I'm never gonna let you up or send you down. I'm here to tell you that Dick's a clown.All baseball men are liers and that's the truth.

As for not leaving Jackson in: Gorzelanny was supposed to do better. He does, and this question doesn't get asked.Edwin had reached Davey's quoted maximum of 90 pitches. He lets them go over that in certain situations and last night wasn't one of them. Meh, the B-squad of the bullpen didn't get the job done last night. Mattheus has not looked like the Mattheus of 2011 as Davey mentioned. Clippard does not even look close to the Clippard of 2011 and he is on the A squad. HRod is the only bullpen pitcher who looks better than last year … Stammen has looked just about the same … pretty effective. I don't mind it as long as they don't give free passes which they didn't. The hitters had to work for to get those runs.

I think the actual line was their words aren't worth more than worn out tiresandFans pull the tooth with worn out Pliersand I'm here to tell you that Jim's a clown…. the weather is good, the weekend looks like a washout…so let's enjoy today for tomorrow, we get wet.Sorry to "What the Heck happened to Schneck" (Former Mets outfielder: Dave Schneck)

Sofa (of many variations!!) I am not upset that Davey used Gorzo, I just don't understand why. EJ had really settled in and allowed just one baserunner in his last 4 innings. He was throwing strikes and was under 90 pitches. Then for Davey to say he wanted to "save" the pen just doesn't make sense. You save the pen by not using any of them until its necessary. In my opinion it just wasn't necessary and of course it blew up as well. If Gorzo throws to scoreless innings and its his time to bat I can see a pinch hitter but since we were down by 6 or 7 at that time, I would have just let him bat and that would "save" the pen. Davey let Mattheus bat with runners on base in a tie game when he had Danny and others in the dugout. Sometimes I just don't get it but I am thrilled with the results.Go Nats!!

YP…where's your tix, I'm interested.Skidge, got any extra tix for Nick….Cause, his song The Beast in Left should be the Nats team song for the Beast when he returns. " The Beast in Left is caged by frail and fragile bones, restless by day and by night hits and rakes against the stars… The Beast in Left has had to learn to live in pain, and shelter from the rain but with a bean ball too far in, might have to be restrained. Sometimes he tries to kid them he's just a teddy bear, but that is when the pitcher ought to beware…They've seen him hit 'em out in New York or near here.God help the Beast in Left.

The Nats were 14 games into a 162 game season. How the heck is the bullpen "used" up? They have been pitching one friggin' inning a piece for the most part. And to not try and win a game because of division rival coming into town? That's just UFB to me! So they won the series, the last game doesn't mean squat?But they are still 10-4.GYFNG!!!

m20832 has a point. Yes, we've had some games that have gone into extra innings, but the starters have been fantastic, many going into the 7th inning and EJax pitching a complete game last Saturday. You really can't ask much more from themm The bullpen's going to be taxed like this all year long. Hopefully they can handle it.I think what was really going on was that he took out E-Jax after 5 because he figured he had dodged a bullet with no runs being scored since the 1st, we had come back to 5-4, Gorzo was rested, and the batting order lined up so that a double switch would allow him to pitch 2 or 3 innings without having to use a pinch hitter. So hopefully we come back and Gorzo gets us to the 9th and only one other reliever is needed, at most two. Once Gorzo blew up, DJ pretty much conceded the game, deciding he didn't want to use a bunch of other relievers. So he sent Gorzo back for another inning to "take it on the chin." But his pitch count was too high to send him out for the 8th, hence Burnett and Mattheus. So it was an evolving plan based on what happened on the field, not some master decision early on not to save the bullpen for the Fish. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

You nailed it section 222.Made it home in 11 hrs. 52 minutes door to door. Great seeing MicheleS, Another Sam and sjm308 this trip. Should be back for a weekend in June but it's still in the planning stage.OK….lets broil some fish

222 – I agree. I also think Davey sees the Fish series as important. I see, for example, that he's starting Flo tonight to try to slow down the Marlins' running game, which has been very successful so far.

Awww, I always liked Kearns.I still do … but Bowden extended, then over paid him assuming he would become the Nats right/ center fielder in near-term perpetuity. He had that thumb injury that required surgery once that was repaired his hitting came around. But, by then it seems it was too late for the guy. Could have been a nice piece in a different Nats universe such as today's.

Have to agree with 222. Not a bad outing for still very early (Its still April for f**cks sake (as the Brits would say) people?) NO WALKS, still in first place. They've got to get to June all in one piece and hopefully still in first place because that's when they meet the beasts from the AL East plus some contenders in the NL.

This is it. The start of the actual season. The past two have been an extended Spring Training, only the games counted. This is the series that proves if this team is for real. The Marlins haven't trounched us in the past, they just beat us. And they are coming in here, thinking that they can do it again. Go get'em Ross. Go Nats. I will be on pins and needles the whole weekend

Anonymous said… Tyler Moore 2-run dinger in the 1st. Get him up here for tomorrow's game!!! April 20, 2012 7:48 PM __________________________________________El hombre es en fuego. Get 'em while he's HOT!Question is, who would you send down?

If all stays healthy, the Nats will be improving quite a bit by the time the humidity gets from the hot South winds off the Potomac (Moore, Morse, Harper, Storen, Wang…)…Could replace DaRosa, Nady, Bernadina, ??, ?? thru DFA, to minors, trades. Predict Lannan, Gorz, Bernadina as part of trade by June to Boston, Tampa, team in AL East to make room for Wang, Storen, Morse, Moore (DaR. DFA). Noone likes change but given all that's knockin on the door,don't think the nats will have a choice.Impressive what TM is doing in the cool weather.

Predict Lannan, Gorz, Bernadina as part of trade by June to Boston, Tampa, team in AL East to make room for Wang, Storen, Morse, Moore (DaR. DFA). Noone likes change but given all that's knockin on the door,don't think the nats will have a choice.Still think this is silliness. Gorzelanny is the ONLY other left-handed reliever other than Burnett. He is also a back up starter. Bernadina isn't going to be traded the way he is hitting. Finally, Lannan is there in case of injury. Drew Storen isn't going to be back until after the AllStar break and a good bit beyond. He still has to go through rehab do the minor league games deal for 30-days. Wang probably can't start 20-23 games. HE HASN'T PITCHED AT ALL in over FOUR YEARS? Much less pitched regular starts in a rotation? The Nats have to be looking at him as a Strasburg replacement at Stras shutdown time. That would give Wang a pretty good run without over taxiing him …Don't believe Wang could be overtaxed? Remember that Cubs pitcher that used to be a closer? Jeff Samardzija? The guy who made the Nats look silly with his almost 100 mph fast ball and went well over 100 pitches? Guess what? He's pitched far worse than Gorzelanny the past 2 starts as a result. Stupid Cubs manager who ought to be a fan or in the minors like Riggleman. Stop being silly …

Detwiler 79 pitches? Makes sense … Detwiler they didn't stretch Detwiler out the way they did the other starters … Johnson is being cautious. Can't disagree with that … injuries do happen see Storen, Drew. And not that I like saying it but thanks to Jim Riggleman I fear Tyler Clippard could be joining him.

MicheleS, I agree but I see Davey's rationale in that he got few ST starts and is still getting stretched out. Still, would have liked to see him for one more inning. He did throw 81 pitches in his last start but maybe didn't want to take him out in the middle of an inning — let him leave on a high note.

building up his strength? I have no idea why RD was taken out but I am sure perfectly logical explanation there.Again, with the silliness. Two words: Jeff Samardzija. Want two more? Tom Gorzelanny 2007 Pirates abused as no pitcher should be by Rockies Manager Jim Tracy when he was there.Stop the silliness …

Jeff Samardizija was a starter for most of his career. His pitch count is not why he is getting hit…you are one stupid baseball fan anon 8:40, 8:38, 8:35. You think you are a doctor, but really you are just "chicken little."

Still, would have liked to see him for one more inning.If he keeps pitching like this? You will for sure … count on it. He'll get his 33 starts if he doesn't get injured. People think Wang is going to replace Detwiler and they'll send him back to the bullpen? Hahahahahaahahahaha.Its still early. The Nats are trying to juggle some balls … Strasburg's eventual shutdown. Injuries. A one year contract for the #4 starter Jackson? CM Wang? Let's face it Detwiler looks poised to move up to #4 and he's under team control for the long haul. Right now I'd predict Rosenbaum, Stammen and Gorzelanny compete for the #5 spot next year come August.It all depends on whether the Nats are in competition for the playoffs. And even then they aren't going to mortgage their future for a one-time run. Who would the trade pieces be then? Wang, Jackson, Lannan, and perhaps LaRoche all on 1 year (LaRoche does have a 10 million option they might exercise.) contract.

Jeff Samardizija was a starter for most of his career. His pitch count is not why he is getting hit…you are one stupid baseball fan anon 8:40, 8:38, 8:35. You think you are a doctor, but really you are just "chicken little."I don't know clown why is that FP keeps bringing it up numb nuts? Is he stupid too? Gee Let's see if the moronic poster is right? OH MY what an imbecile?2008 26 ganes NO STARTS.2009 20 games 2 starts,2010 7 games 3 starts.2011 75 games 0 starts.I love moronic anonymii …

You should check the minors rapier…86 starts in 4 years…you must love yourself moron anonymous!!!Gee moron? The last time he started in a rotation was Before the last time Wang started a game? That's SIX YEARS? Moron.

Did you hear the one about the big moron and the baby moron? The big moron took the baby moron to the park where they got on the teeter totter. After a couple of minutes, the big moron fell off. Know why? Because the baby was a little moron.

Did you hear the one about the big moron and the baby moron? The big moron took the baby moron to the park where they got on the teeter totter. After a couple of minutes, the big moron fell off. Know why? Because the baby was a little moron.The intellectual level of Orioles fans who post here never ceases to amaze me! Drinking all of the sludge from the Inner Harbor can't be good for you.

Way too many anons -I am going with a nice Port but have had two refills with the way things are going Pretty surenAnkiel would have been out at 3 rd with a good throw but I will take itHere comes HRod

sjm308–True re Ankiel and 3rd — but making that throw from the position Cishek was in would have been a challenge. I think he quickly visualized himself throwing into foul territory down the LF line. Prudent to take the sure out and then trust your pitching with 2 outs.

It must suck to go against this pitching staff with so many great pitchers (look at tonight…Detwiler, then strike em out Stammen, then high hard ones Clippard, then Heartbeat Heat Henry) in one game or one series….phenomonal

Nats pitching stats so far are crazy…as good as the billion dollar philly staff (2nd lowest ERA, WHIP, 1st in batting average against), have given up 2 HRS…next closest team Phillys/Pirates with 7Redsox have given up 23

Is it too early to imagine the Nats having FOUR young gun front line starters for the next four years? Ross is finally starting to live up to his first round talent. Glad to see as I've liked him ever since I saw him pitch at Potomac late that same year he was drafted.

First – MichelleS – it was a lovely Ruby although I am fine with the Tawny as wellNow, to the Anons – from the first posts predicting a loss to the later ones at 9:32 and what ever. Why don't you have the guts to at least make a name up if you are going to be so negative. If you were ever right (which is rare) you could at least then take credit. As it is, you look like losers which is NOT what the Nationals were tonight. Go ahead and root against the home team if that makes you a feel better but I think you might realize it is so much fun to have a positive outlook if you would just try. 11-4 neganons, first place and another shutout!! Go Nats

I personally think Anon submissions should be disabled & that each user account should require an associated verified email address to make it more difficult to post trolling or inflammatory material. Having said that, I've never posted a negative thing here and will continue to use the Anon function as long as it's available due to its ease & convenience.-Jim

timDz – saw Townshend & Daltrey a couple of years ago at Verizon. Brought back great memories of Woodstock etc. Ringo's son was the drummer. Not sure who referenced Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe but this is getting to be fun in so many different ways!! Saw Nick Lowe and the Bad Seed years ago when there were all kinds of nasty smoky things going around. Its just craft beer and fine wine now but the big difference is we have a WINNING Baseball team.go Nats!!

Jim, as long as you sign off after starting with Anon I have no problems – there are several others that do that and I appreciate most comments. Its just the flat "nationals will never beat the Marlins" or "Hrod is going to blow it" etc that drive me crazy. Sofa can say HRod is going to blow it or any of the others but coming from an anon its just a cheap shot. Rant over. Can't wait for tomorrow!!

Damn, thats what lots of wine/port will do. You are right Scott and I listened to lots of The Band today as well.Anon, I had Burnett autograph a ball two years ago and he was quite polite and happy to be here. I root for him all the time but lots here are impatient. He has not given up a run this year and had a strong ending to last year as well. I guess the jury is still out but I think he is a plus for our pen.

Sofa can say HRod is going to blow itOK, for the record, I would never make that particular kind of stupid comment. I don't do that. Other things, maybe, but not that. Honestly, I'm glad I was out last night, the in-game thread is getting really flushed. Great game, though.And I like Warre's, but the Sandeman logo is perfect.